Each time that FG is run, the first screen that you will see is the launcher screen. The screen below is for the Full license of FG. Your launcher screen options may very by license.

Click the button on the left side of the launcher that corresponds to how you want to run FG for this session.

Load Campaign

The GM hosts a session by selecting the campaign and options that they want to use this session.

Click "Load Campaign".

Scroll the Select Campaign list until you see the campaign you want to load.

Click on the campaign that you would like to load. The campaign entry in the list will darken.

Edit any campaign details or host address details on the launcher screen.

Click "Start".

Campaign Detail Options

Username: The user name displayed to the players by default when you chat.

Password: The password required to allow players to access your session. Disabled if empty. Make sure to give the password to your players.

Extensions: Customization files for the ruleset (game system definition) used for your campaign.

Create New Campaign

The GM hosts a new session by creating the campaign that they want to run.

Click "Create New Campaign".

Enter the Campaign name that you want to use for this campaign.

Enter the Username you want the players to see when you chat.

Enter a Password if you want your game to require a password from the players before they log in.

Click the ruleset (game system definition) that you want to use for your campaign from the Select ruleset list.

Choose any ruleset extensions (customizations) that you want to use for your campaign from the Extensions list.

Edit any host address details on the launcher screen.

Click "Start".

Join Game

A player can join any game for which they have the connection information. You will be asked for a password when you attempt to connect if the GM has set a password for their game.

Click "Join Game".

Enter the Username that you want to use. Any characters that you create or select will be tied to this user name.

Enter the Address or Alias that you received from the GM hosting your game.

Click "Start".

- OR -

Click "Join Game".

Click the username and host address/alias that you would like to load fron the Connection history list.

Click "Start".

Manage Characters

As a player, when you are not connected to a game, you can use this application mode to create or edit characters for any ruleset (game system definition) that you have installed in FG. Also, you can view (but not edit) characters from any campaigns in which you participated in.

Click "Manage Characters".

Scroll the Rulesets list until you see the ruleset you want to load.

Click the ruleset that you would like to load. The ruleset entry in the list will darken.

In the Extensions list, choose any extensions used for your game. You should ask your GM for which extensions to use.

Click "Start".

- OR -

Click "Manage Characters".

Scroll the Campaigns list until you see the campaign you want to load.

Click the campaign that you would like to load. The campaign entry in the list will darken.

Click "Start".

Address and alias

When players attempt to connect to a game that you are hosting, they need to be able to find your server on the Internet/network. Here is an overview of the address and alias fields to help you communicate the correct information to your players.

Internal address: Address used to connect to the host server by computers on local network.

External address: Address used to connect to the host server by computers on Internet.

Alias: A series of words generated by FG to allow your players to the host server by computers on the Internet. An alias is useful if your external address changes often.

A connection test button is available in order to allow you to test whether the appropriate ports are open on your computer and local network in order to host a FG session. Click the "Run Test" button and the application will request the FG server to connect to your computer.

Warning

If you have a firewall, configure it to have port 1802 (TCP/incoming) open, not stealthed and possibly forwarded to your computer (usually required if behind a hardware firewall or router). See the FAQ for further details on how to do this.

Checking for updates

If the update button at the lower left of the launcher screen turns red and the label reads "Update available", there is an updated version of the application and/or included rulesets available.

Click on "Update available".

The Updater application will start, updating the necessary files.

Click "Done" after the update is completed.

If a new version of the updater application itself was available, the update will be run again for a second time.

Contact us at support@fantasygrounds.com with any questions or for support requests. The forums is also a great resource to get questions answered quickly or to find groups of players and gamemasters you can join.